Senate President Francis Escudero yesterday said sees no reason for the Senate blue ribbon committee to refuse “justifiable” requests to certify transcripts of its hearings on the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.
“If someone asks to certify the hearing transcript, I see no reason why the blue ribbon committee should not certify it as long as the reason is justifiable, “Escudero told Super Radyo dzBB in an interview.
In his appearance at the Senate hearing on the drug war, Duterte took “full responsibility” for the war on drugs.
Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, chair of the House Quad Committee in investigating extrajudicial killings during the Duterte administration, said they have provided copies of the transcript of the hearings to the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL).
“Since it is a public document, posted on all social media platforms of the Congress, we gave our transcript. That’s up to them where they will use it,” he said in a separate interview.
Meanwhile, families of drug war victims gathered yesterday at the Siena College Chapel to mark the eighth anniversary of remembrance for their slain relatives.
They also called for the prosecution of Duterte and his cohorts to hold them accountable for the deaths of thousands.
Deaconess Rubylin Litao, coordinator of Rise Up for Life and for Rights, said in a report by ABS-CBN that the families of the victims agree that the former President was responsible for the killings.
Meanwhile, ICC assistant to counsel Kristina Conti said that the ICC might issue an arrest warrant for Duterte before the end of the year.
“The question at this stage of the ICC investigation is who is most responsible for the killings,” she said.
She asserted that Duterte’s statements made during the Senate hearing will stand as they are.
According to official government data, 6,181 people were killed during the anti-drug campaign. However, several rights groups believe that up to 30,000 may have been killed.
